For my greatest skill has been to want but little.

-Thoreau

What three things couldn’t you live without? To be clear, I don’t mean food, water and shelter. Also removed from acceptable answers is anything with a pulse. What are three things that give you an inordinate amount of pleasure, that can make an ick filled day better because you have them? Mine are books, hot drinks and time in nature. I find them all to be deeply comforting.

I’ve asked countless people this question over the last several years, and have even come up with other people’s three things on occasion. In all the answers I can remember, they were things that were easily obtainable. Sometimes we need to be reminded that what we value, what makes life better, might be close at hand.

This question became more than a mental exercise for me about 6 years ago. I was still a flight attendant at the time and had just landed at London’s Heathrow Airport. As the last of the passengers were deplaning I noticed that my suitcase was missing. I quickly told the agent what had happened. She made announcements in the airport to have people check to see if they had accidentally taken the wrong suitcase, yet no one came forward. Fortunately, I still had my tote bag with my passport, wallet, keys, phone and other important items.

When we arrived at the hotel, my crew asked me to let them know if I needed anything. One friend kindly gave me an oversized t-shirt and a pair of socks so I would have pajamas. After dropping off my tote bag in my room I walked to the grocery store still in a bit of disbelief.

There’s no memory of the food items purchased, what I do recall is noticing the hanging baskets of flowers along the street. There was a profusion of blooms in bold colors, and a light mist of rain. It occurred to me then that this was my time in nature. In my hotel room was my fully charged Kindle, my tea thermos and Earl Grey tea.

Suitcase is stolen

Shocked at first, but then I find

I have all I need